More Taser Time

[StrykerFSU]

Happy Thanksgiving Dan.

I stand by my statement on Blackwater, that they are a private security firm contracted by the US Government and not a part of the US Armed Forces. People should not be using the alleged actions of mercernaries to mischaracterize the members of our armed forces. As for the investigation, I was going on this article in the Int'l Herald Tribune published on Nov. 20:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/11/20/news/black.php

It was unclear how many subpoenas had been issued. Prosecutors are also seeking company records compiled at the time of the shooting as well as employee work histories and military service files.

Federal prosecutors have issued grand jury subpoenas to some of the Blackwater employees present at a Sept. 16 shooting in Baghdad in which the company's security personnel killed 17 Iraqi civilians, lawyers in the case and government officials briefed on the matter said.

The opening of the grand jury inquiry is a significant step in the case because it indicates that prosecutors believe that there is enough evidence of wrongdoing to warrant a formal criminal investigation.

[tlaing1]

I'm not going to make any statement besides this cops a jerk.

[shrekjr]

Not saying the cop was right or wrong because I do think he used poor judgement by using the taser as quickly as he did, at which point the situation would only get worse. But the driver knows the proper procedures when pulled over and chose not to follow them. He should have signed the ticket, drove off, and fought it in court with the proof he believed he had in this case. I have fought tickets and lost, I've also fought tickets and won, it can be done. Once he made the decision to not sign the ticket, he knew it could only get worse from that point on and he voluntarily made that decision. Unfortunately, he made that decision involving a cop with no patience. Both appear to have blame, and yes the cop is the professional, but that doesn't relieve the driver of using good sense either and antagonizing a cop is never a good solution.

[GrizLens]

... and antagonizing a cop is never a good solution.

Especially in Utah...

[Beta]

But the driver knows the proper procedures when pulled over and chose not to follow them. He should have signed the ticket, drove off, and fought it in court with the proof he believed he had in this case.

You don't HAVE to sign the ticket. Legally you are not required to. It is not illegal to not sign it. And different states have different regulations to follow if it is not signed.

but that doesn't relieve the driver of using good sense either and antagonizing a cop is never a good solution.

I saw no antagonizing whatsoever. You are well within your rights to ask what you did wrong. The cop said "get out of the car" and the driver did so. The cop did not tell him where to stand or where to go and the driver followed the cop, not illegal either. The driver was pointing at the sign/area and trying to explain himself and the cop pulled out the taser. If the cop was "so threatened" why didn't he pull out his gun? Cops pull out their guns all the time, and do not use them.

The cop did not even try to use physical force on the man before using the taser. Why didn't the cop subdue the man using the techniques that he, or any 9th grade wrestler has been taught? Why even teach physical restraint techniques if you're first thought is to taser someone?

Obviously not all cops are bad....but not all cops are good at their job either. Think of how many people we work with...and how many are "bad" at their job. What's to say that the same percentage of cops aren't "bad" at their job too. Only when a cop is bad at their job, someone gets shocked, shot or dead....as opposed to when we mess up at work...and send an email without an attachment.

[Zeuslax]

The cop did not even try to use physical force on the man before using the taser. Why didn't the cop subdue the man using the techniques that he, or any 9th grade wrestler has been taught? Why even teach physical restraint techniques if you're first thought is to taser someone?

The scary part here is that he obviously knew there was a camera in the car. I'm sure after a while you are just immune to the camera and it doesn't even cross your mind. However, it makes you wonder what kind of things happened precamera.

This is very unfortunate. The last university I attended had a criminal justice program and a education program. The two programs were considered the easiest and the students attending these programs weren't considered the brightest or held in the highest esteem, if you know what I mean. I say it's unfortunate because the best and brightest should be groomed for public service. This just isn't the case. I know this is a large generalization, but it's consistent and is often the case.

[Campbell]

Ok, let me pose a question. Soldiers and cops pursue these careers for what reason? According to you, it's not because they get paid well. I know it's patriotic to say that you become a soldier to serve your country, but what % of people become a soldier because there aren't any other options given their skill set?

This is total BS. Assuming this statement is true there would be hundreds of thousands of out of work vets. People join the military out of patriotism or a sense of duty, people join the military because their parents/grandparents were in the military, people join the military to get money for school, people join the military because they graduate from high school/college and are not sure what to do with their lives, some join to learn a trade, and yes their are probably people who join the military to shoot things and blow shit up. You can't generalize about soldiers in our military when they come from all walks of life for various reasons.

[Buc_em_up]

The fact of the matter is that the US military is held to a much higher standard then you, me, or the cops in Utah.

I am not trying to generalize here and i know my source is less than perfect but i was talking to a guy during a game of call of duty 4 on X Box Live, yes i know its common place to tell tall tales over the x box mic, but I mentioned how the barret .50 snipe rifel is not meant to be used on people and this guy claimed to have been attatched to sniper unit in Iraq, some sort of spotter or something, and he said that they used the barret on people on a daily basis. He said that in the after action report all you had to say was "I was aiming for the AK47 he was carrying and missed and hit him square between the eyes" in other words the only thing that matters is the after action report and no one cares if you lie on it or not. That seems like a lower standard to me. But again...XBOX live, i know. could be bogus

[BigheadTodd]

$40,000 is the magic number:
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8529728